Used Nikon SB-800

In about an hour I'm going to go try out and probably buy a used SB-800 (for around half price of the SB-900)
I was hoping some one could name a few issues to look out for so that if i'm being cheated into buying a faulty flash, i'll be able to recognize it as such in a matter of minutes.

What are common issues with the SB-800?
thanks in advance,-Louis

Responses

I haven't had many problems with mine, but I would check the battery terminals if I were you. I've had to clean corrosion twice off of mine and I use regular Duracell rechargeables. I don't leave them in there longer than need be, but for some reason I've had corrosion issues. It was nothing major though, and the flash works fine.

"what differences in terms of power should i expect between my 1yr-old SB-600, my brand new SB-900 and the 2.5yr-old SB-800?"

Flash tubes (with different dates of manufacture) may have a variety of light intensities, depending on how heavy the use of the unit has seen. My guess... if you try to get perfect, even illumination from three different Nikon speedlights (the SB-600, the SB-900, and the SB-800) you probably should look into some studio lighting and a softbox or decent flash umbrella set-up.

SB-800 (used) for CHF 275; SB-600 (new) 310; SB-900 (new) 450.-
I'll ask what it was used for and i'll do a side by side test between the 900 and the 800 at same FX zoom and full burst. thanks for everyone's help!

Are you saying an SB600 is $310?? BH Photo has it for $218, so wherever you've seen those prices is overpriced. I wouldn't go for a used flash either, because you never know how much use it has left in it.

no, it's 310 francs, (about $280) here in switzerland. unfortunately it would end up about 260 francs after shipping and tax and all of that from adorama or BH (funny thing, BH means bra in german :D), if there were to be any problems with it, i might as well buy a new one in terms of shipping costs and all that. the absolute cheapest place sells for 280 francs, so getting them from the states to save $20 wouldn't be worth the hassle.
anyways, i got the SB-800 with a one month warranty, a lambency-diffuser (cheap rip off of the rip off GF), 5th batt. compartment, but no stand or lighting filters for 255.-. i figure i have the stands from my SB-900 and SB-600, not to mention lumiquest gel holders with rosco gels, so all in all i should be totally fine :)

thanks again to everyone for the quick replies, this forum is great! :)

Funny I thought Switzerland was in the Euro zone. That and the UK decided against it. I was lucky enough to buy a brand new SB-800 a few months before they were discontinued. Love that flash, and a great upgrade from the 600, which I sold. Recently bought the little SB-400 to mount on my P6000. What a great combo!